I described 'The Outer Worlds' to my friends like "playing in the world of Firefly." Not that the characters are the same, but the retro future setting, the charm, and the wit of that excellent, short-lived series are all here.
Gameplay is as familiar and fun as anything you'll find in a modern role-playing game, from Skyrim to Fallout to Mass Effect. The familiar gameplay loop of combat, exploration, crafting and more is pretty much here, and executed well.
What elevates "The Outer Worlds" to something you should play is the outstanding characters and the rich storyline. There's only a couple ways the overall story can end, but how you get there is definitely fun.
That being said, now that I've finished the game I'm not compelled to play it over again, at least not anytime soon. Plan to play this once, and enjoy accordingly.